Naples Zoo

The grounds of Carribean gardens are beautiful. They have preserved a good portion of this land. It shows you what the natural state of Florida really looked like before all the gowth and production. The zoo is neat, too. They house many different animals here. You walk along the trails to see them. There is a boat ride through the "monkey islands". It is brutally hot in the summertime, so go early if that's when you plan to visit. It is overly crowded in the winter, as that is our busy tourist season. The prices are kind of high, but there is usually a coupon for a few bucks off in the many area discount books. They also offer residents of Collier county discounts throughout the year. Even with the high prices, I highly recommend everyone see this place at least once. You won't be sorry you did! more

Naples Zoo is a nationally accredited zoo and yet much more than a zoo. A natural path almost a mile in length winds past rare and beautiful animals residing within a 52-acre jungle of exotic plants first planted in 1919 with a fascinating history. In this tropical setting, you can take delight at seeing many of your favorite animals like lions, kangaroos, and monkeys. In addition, you'll also discover an array of more rarely seen creatures like the endangered African wild dogs or an Asian deer that barks and eats meat. Beyond the exhibits and gardens, the best of the zoo can be seen by taking in the full day of fun and entertaining presentations and activities that have a solid conservation foundation. Safari Canyon presentations like Planet Predator and Serpents:Fangs & Fiction enable you to understand wildlife in exciting ways through living animals, wildlife video, and live camera close-ups. The Primate Expedition Cruise takes you through islands inhabited by monkeys, lemurs, and apes. You can also enjoy the Meet the Keeper Series and Alligator Bay Feeding. Children enjoy touching animals or exploring each of the three play areas. You can also relax in a tranquil setting looking over the water to watch the lemurs, monkeys, and apes on their islands. In the more densely foliated northern gardens, you can walk beneath the expansive canopy of giant ficus trees and their sprawling aerial root systems. Combining conservation and recreation, Naples Zoo offers fun for every generation. You'll also discover a number of ways to get involved in helping animals. The zoo is accredited by the prestigious American Zoo and Aquarium Association and is also an institutional member of the American Association of Zoo Keepers, Inc. Open daily* at 9:30 a.m. The last ticket is sold at 4:30 p.m. Zoo grounds close at 5:30 p.m. Arrive early and allow four to five hours to enjoy all of the shows, the cruise, gardens, and animal exhibits. Admission includes all presentations and the Primate Expedition Cruise Adults ages 16 through 64 $15.95 plus tax Seniors ages 65 and up $14.95 plus tax Children ages 4 through 15 $9.95 plus tax Children ages 3 and under Free Caribbean Gardens Members Free Visa, MasterCard, and Discover Accepted more

Get close to animals from alligators to zebras inside a historic 52-acre botanical garden. See the rarest tigers in America, Africa's top four predators, Panther Glade, and much more. Enjoy a full day of fun shows feauring Planet Predator, Meet The Keeper series, Serpents: fangs & Fiction and so much more. Cruise on a boat ride past islands of monkeys, lemurs, and apes. Great whether you're nine or ninety! Open Daily 9:30 to 5:30. Don't miss it! more

Caribbean Gardens is nestled right in the heart of Naples. It settled back behind lots of gorgeous foliage. They have a large variety of animals to view. There are daily shows that showcase some of the more popular animals. My favorite part of this zoo is the boat rides through the monkey islands. Sometimes you are able to see the monkeys very closely and it is neat to see them swinging in their "natural" habitat rather than a cage. The price is a little high, but there are yearly passes and discounts for residents. more

This is a fun local attraction. It does not rival larger zoos but it has its merits. The shows are good. The trainers/animal handlers are good at what they do and with the animals. It is uncomfortably hot in the summer but uncomfortably crowded in the winter. Stop at the mall and get a discount coupon book (the ones in Caribbean Gardens have the coupons removed). You can get $2-3 off with the coupon or consider a family membership if you want to go more than 2 days in a year. more